Glory to God!

We had yet another exciting Sunday service, Pastor started out by pointing out a few lessons from the story of Lazarus and the rich man as recorded in Luke 16:19-31. From the story, Pastor debunked the idea that people go to a waiting place when they die, Jesus by his statements clearly showed that there is and was no such waiting place, and that people went to either Abraham’s bossom or hell, she also showed us that in hell, the occupants are in continuous torment, contrary to the opinion from some quarters that they get destroyed once. Pastor counselled us to subject every thought or ideas that we get from others to the word of God, knowing that it is our manual.

Pastor also showed us from the story how terrible hell is to the degree that those there do not want others to come there. We saw this demonstrated in how the rich man sought every opportunity to get his brothers warned about hell having experienced it. She admonished us to constantly remind those around us who are not born again of the importance of receiving the salvation Jesus provided. She further explained that in all of Jesus’ encounters with sinners, he got them saved and she charged us to always have in mind that our sole purpose when found amidst unbelievers is to ensure they get saved and not to conform to their standards.

Pastor made us understand from the story that the word of God should be the priority in our lives, even over open visions.

“And he said, Nay, Father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Luke 16:30-31

The rich man believed that if someone rose from the dead to warn his brothers, they would repent, but the story makes it clear that if they could not persuaded by the law and the prophets, that is the scriptures, they would not be persuaded by even a vision of someone who rose from the dead. Pastor emphasized that the major purpose Jesus had in telling this story of what happened to Lazarus and the rich man was to get this message across, that the word of God is the ultimate, over visions and any such appearances.

In Luke 7, a centurion sent elders to plead with Jesus to come heal his sick servant, as Jesus approached the house, the centurion sent his friends to say that all he needed was for Jesus to speak the word, he was convinced he did not need to see Jesus but that his words were enough to effect the change he desired.

“Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it”
Luke 7:7‭-‬8

In response, Jesus commended him for expressing great faith, indeed, throughout the scriptures, those who Jesus commended for having great faith were those who did not need his presence to receive their miracle but were satisfied with his word. Pastor addressed the thoughts that people often have about the advantage of being on the earth with Jesus while he walked the earth, she assured us that we are not in any way disadvantaged compared to those who were on earth with Jesus. Peter walked with Jesus and was with him at the Mountain of Transfiguration, he saw Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus and heard the voice of God, yet in 2Peter 1:19, he concluded that;

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto you do well that you take heed”

He knew that the word of prophecy was greater than the vision they saw. The Apostle Paul spoke in a similar manner in Galatians 1:8;

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”

Pastor taught us that any vision a Christian may have has to meet the standard of the word else it is not good enough, she reminded us that a major religion in the world was formed based on a vision of an angel the founder supposedly had but as we saw in Galatians 1:8, any such vision that contradicts the word of God should be discarded.

Pastor took us further by showing us what Jesus himself said in reference to this,

“And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”
Luke 8:21

He was told that his mother and brethren sought him but he boldly declared that those he recognises as his mother and brethren are those who hear and do the word of God. He gives us a picture that in hearing and doing the word consistently, we become fully identified with the word, one with him. God is more excited about those who take him by his word and his blessings are for those who do the word.

Pastor rounded off the message by teaching us how to see in this month of vision,

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do”
Hebrews 4:12 – 13

Pastor taught us to see with the word, to realise that the word is quick and powerful, having the ability to get into any situation and fix the problem, she admonished us to believe in the simplicity of the word, to recognise that the word has sight and ensure that the word becomes the template for any vision we are going to have.

As an example, concerning our health, the word of God says;

“by his stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53:5

Concerning our protection, the word of God says;

“and nothing shall by any means hurt you” Luke 10:19

These are visions we can see, anytime there is negative news in view, we ought to remember that nothing can hurt us, nothing can hurt our health or our even our finances according to the word.

Pastor reminded us that the word of God shows us our natural face as the Bible teaches us in James 1:23.

The word shows us what is natural to us and gives us a vision that is peculiar to us. We may all read the same words from the Bible but we must always remember that the word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and so he gives us a vision that is peculiar to us.

Pastor concluded by emphasizing that we have to submit any vision we might have for our life to the word of God first and that any vision contrary to the word should be discarded.

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